Mousekingdom Blog

Summer season is over, school is back on, time for the next holiday celebrations at Walt Disney World. Halloween is only 2 months away and decorations at the Magic Kingdom have gone up. At the entrance of the park you can already see a lot of orange decorations. Nothing scary, but your regular Mickey pumpkins, flags and other fun stuff.

Just behind the train station you’ll find even more Halloween decorations. Including a baseball player and a musician, all dressed up for the occasion. More pumpkins and “Not so scary” Mickey faces can be found all the way down Main Street USA. The Magic Kingdom is ready for their annual “Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party”. (more…)

While the Mousekingdom Blog is all about the magical world of Disney we can’t help ourself to sometimes talk about some other great stuff in the world of theme parks. For me that’s especially true when it comes to Roller Coasters. It’s never been a secret that I love Island of adventure too (although Harry Potter could change this feeling as I am not a fan of that change in the park), and when visiting Walt Disney World, a visit to the Universal Parks is a given. However, Universal Studios has not been on my list of favorites. Nor me or my family are a fan of the park and the only reason I returned there in 2007 was because of my love for Halloween Horror Night. But… then they came up with Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit and I have been following the project from the beginning. Now, I can’t wait to return to Universal on our next trip to try that monster! All it needed to convince me to visit their park again was too add a great coaster (See how easy I am pleased).

So why this long introduction? Here is one awesome picture from the new ride, taken from a helicopter above the Studios. You can find the big version on the Johnnyupsidedown.com site. Not only will you be able to gaze on the fantastic photo, but you can also follow the work done on the coaster on the site. There are always a great set of construction pictures added on regular basis. Enjoy the ride…

Picture copyrights Jordan Scarano

You can’t visit a Disney park with (young) children without visiting the Disney characters at least once one your trip. For some children this is the highlight of their visit, waited months to see Mickey Mouse, to finally arrive at the magic and share some time with him or one of his friends.

In the US parks guests have the opportunity to visit many of the characters. They are everywhere, waiting for the children’s visit. Most of the time they are located on designated spots, but sometimes they take place on one of the streets in the park. Once guests spot the character they get into line, wait patiently till it’s their turn and get a couple of minutes to shake hands, say a couple of things, get their autograph book signed and take a picture before they have to make room for the next group or family.

I remember visiting the Magic kingdom during Halloween, where Winnie the Pooh and his friends appeared in Halloween outfits. They where lined up, (about 5 characters) and guests formed a long line in front of them to get their pictures taken. It was al very organized and very neat, with new guest lining up behind the last one and never did I see anybody try to queue barge.It looks like a good an honest way to make sure every child gets their turn, but their is a down side to it too. There is no room for sporadic interactive fun.

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This is a Disney Blog, by Disney Geeks who love to talk about the Disney Magic. But once and a while something else happens in the world, non Disney related, and we can’t help ourself talking about it here. In this case I want to point something out that will make any Alien fan heart beat a little faster. But before I start let’s make a little link to Disney so I can justify talking about it here. When Walt Disney World Closed down Alien Encounter one of the most scariest attractions left the park. I was lucky enough to experience the former attraction, before it turned into the tamer Stitch version. While it was a sad day for the Alien Encounter fans, I personally was even more sad when one of the best ever haunts ever created on this planet disappeared: Alien Wars! Ok, I admit, the link between the two is non existing, but I think I broke the ice. On the other hand, in Hollywood Studios, while riding the Great Movie Ride, you can encounter some of the Alien movie creatures. So there is a link after all.

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Halloween; I love it. It is my favorite holiday. So I am a little sad I can’t be at Mickey’s not so scary Halloween Party or at either Universal Halloween Horror Night and Bush Garden’s Howl-O-Scream. Unfortunately I will not be there next Halloween either. The reason for that is I will be at Walt Disney World in August (So I shouldn’t be to sad about it) and going back that early in October wont happen (unless some miracle happens). For all those who are enjoying some Halloween in the parks; have fun and let us know how you liked the festivities.

Happy Halloween Everybody!

On the Hong Kong Disneyland website you can find a video about their upcoming Halloween event. The video is fun and even a little (for the smaller once) scary. It gives you a nice idea what to expect and is fun to watch. Even if you would not make it to that park (I guess I am not the only one living a little far away from Hong Kong to just go over there and pop in), make sure to watch the Hong Kong Disneyland site and watch this video.

Things that really caught my eye on the video (for me at least) is the “Adventure Haunted Trail” where zombies and pumpkin men will be waiting for you (I wonder how scary they are going to make this) and “Demon Jungle”. “Demon Jungle” is another scary looking theme where you’ll meet… well… demons. Sounds scary for a Disney park, but to me it sounds like great fun…

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It’s only September but Halloween has already emerged in Walt Disney World. With pain in my hart I will not be able to visit Orlando during my favorite time of the year so all I can do is browse the web in search for some pictures on the 2008 Halloween season.

If you want to have a first look, but can’t visit yourself, check out the nice Halloween picture collection on Mousesteps for a first impression.

Picture from Mouseteps. Click on the picture to see the whole collection.

It has been a while again, but there are plenty more pictures I want to show you and let’s be honest, if it’s about Walt Disney World we all love to see pictures. I know I do; I look for them on the web everywhere and then start dreaming away.

The picture I have chosen this time is a fun one as it has been taken from outside the park. It isn’t the first time I shown a picture from outside the park, just look at the Hallowishes picture (on Clickmagique’s PicParade), and browsing true my collection it might not be the last.

Here you can see Space Mountain while taking the boat ride from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. Although the weather wasn’t totally on my side, and clouds spoiled the perfect pictures, I still think it’s nice enough to share here and to bring some ideas to those loving to take photos. Step outside the parks and discover all the other angles available to take your picture.

13! Is it your lucky number or does it spook you out? I love the number, but then I also love spooky things.

So what better moment to show a scary Disney picture. Obviously that’ not an easy task, because lets be honest, is there really anything scary in the Disney Parks…

Loving anything Halloween it’s no surprise that I have a small collection of “scary” Disney pictures. Especially a Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party visit brings the opportunity to fill the camera. Here is one from my last trip, but be warned as I am sure I will not be able to withstand any opportunity to show another “scary” Disney picture in the future…

Disney are well versed in their special evening ‘party’ events which add a whole new style and enjoyment to experiencing the various attractions at the Magic Kingdom. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the festive Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are both well-established events, but we have just seen the debut of a brand new evening experience, the Pirate & Princess Party.

This ran for 13 separate nights from January 22 to March 8, and there is good reason to think this will become a regular annual event. This year’s event was very much an experimental outing, the first of its kind outside the more traditional Halloween and Christmas offerings. But the feedback from the public has been almost unreservedly positive, and our own experience would certainly back that up.

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When you (have to) plan your Walt Disney World holiday early it can happen that you’ll only find out about closures of certain attractions way after you booked. I can only say that I am very happy that the Haunted Mansion will be open and refurbished when I am going. The dates of the closure are June 6th to September 12th and will be a surprise for many summer time visitors. I guess Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has something to do with it as this attraction is the one you should visit during a Halloween party. Although not many people did this, lines where never long, even during the 31st October. In my opinion no Halloween party is complete without a visit to the Mansion.

I am looking forwards to visit my favorite Walt Disney World attraction again in October and am very curious and can’t wait to see the result of the refurbishment.

Picture from The Magic in Pixels

Have a great “Disney” Halloween everybody! If you’re in a Disney Park enjoy your Halloween magic.

Don’t forget to think about me for a second as I love Halloween (my favorite celebration) but can’t be in a Disney Park this year. However I can start my countdown for next years Celebration as planning has started… (Yes, I know, a little early)

So… one more time

If you’re a fan of the haunted Mansion your going to love the next announcement. Doombuggies.com, one of the best websites when it comes to Haunted Mansion information, has a real nice Halloween treat for all of us. They have asked voice actress Kat Cressida who portrays the new Black Widow Bride in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion to tell the real story of the Haunted Mansion as it was intended and created by the Imagineers. A story that was getting lost in all the many other stories that had found their way out there on the web, with the fans or even the Cast Members. This sounds like it will be amazing. We will get the story from a first hand source and we might be getting some real surprises. I for sure cannot wait to hear this. This special feature will go live on the day of Halloween as a special on DoomBuggies.com.

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If you haven’t had the chance to see the Marilyn Manson “This is Halloween” version, that can be found on the new “A Nightmare before Christmas” double CD, visit YouTube to see the whole video.

I guess his music might not be for everybody’s taste (good thing we are not all alike) but I do enjoy his music and think he has done the song justice.

If you’re a big fan of the Tim Burton movie “A Nightmare Before Christmas” and there is some creativity blood running in your veins the following contest might be something for you.

Calling all artists, designers, creative geniuses, film lovers and NIGHTMARE fans! This is your chance to create an original character for Walt Disney Pictures’ holiday classic, TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, making its return to the big screen this month in stunning Disney Digital 3-D. You are free to create the scariest, creepiest, most inspired character you can think of that fits into the world of Tim Burton’s beloved film. Your submission will be judged based on creativity, originality, and the unique features of the character.

The winner will be getting some nice goodies.

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